James Jones

James T. Jones, 88, of Paducah, passed away on Father's Day, June 15, 2014 at 1:20 a.m.

Jimmy was born in Paducah, KY, May 28, 1926, to Ed and Grace Jones. He started working at the Illinois Central Railroad in 1942, making 35 cents per hour, building and rebuilding steam locomotives. In 1944 he joined the US Navy serving on the L.S.T. 974 Landing Craft in the South Pacific. He then returned to work for the ICRR in Paducah, finished his apprenticeship, and transferred to Chicago, IL, where he was trained to work on diesel locomotives. He returned to the Paducah Shop in the 1950's where he worked his way up to General Manager. The Paducah Shop went from 10 rebuilds in 1967 to 2 locomotives each week. At that time the shop had 1150 employees. Jimmy retired as General Manager in 1979. After retirement he was hired as President of Diesel Engine Fabricating Company in Houston, Texas. He then formed his own company, J.T. Jones Inc., selling locomotives, locomotive parts, and paint to various railroads. In retirement, Jimmy and Norma enjoyed houseboating on Kentucky Lake and traveling to their winter home in Clearwater, FL.

Jimmy was a Duke of Paducah, a Kentucky Colonel, and a member of Chief Paduke Post 31. He was a Master Mason at Lodge 127 of Paducah, a member of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Madisonville, and a member of the Rizpah Shrine Temple in Madisonville.

Jimmy was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Norma (Deem) Jones, who died in 2007, parents, Ed and Grace Jones; Sisters, Cora Mae Sanders, and Athlyn Alexander.

He is survived by his daughters, Brenda Herrington and husband Richard of Paducah, Shirley Cutter and husband Rob of Naples, FL; son, Ken Jones and wife Laura of Houston, TX; sisters, Amanda Robertson of Paducah and Eva Newton of Fulton, TN; grandchildren, Keith Herrington and wife Stacy, Josh Herrington and wife Kayla, Nicole Casares, Anthony Casares, and Andy Jones; great grandchildren, Travis, Juliet and Aiden Herrington and Isabella Casares.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 20, 2014 at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah with Rev. Jamie Broome officiating. His graveside service, next to Norma will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 19, 2014, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah. Masonic Rites will be held at 7:00 p.m. Thursday.